Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-04
SEA OF LIGHT STONE.
TEE HISTORY OF TIE MANCHESTER
DIAMOND FIND.
Tho Lucky Man Unlucky Enough TO Get
Next to Nothing for the Beau
tiful Gem.

In Harpc,'s Magazine for December
Mr.. George T. Kunz has an article on
"Precious Stones Found in America, y"
in which appears the extract copied in
last Sundays Dispatch relating to the
finding of diamond in the city OF Man
chester. Desiring TO throw further
light on this interesting subject,
n representative Of this paper yes
terdav conversed with several gentlemen
identified with Manchester or acquainted
with her history. OF the two hundred
crystals found in various portions OF the
United States Mr.. Kunz says this was the
largest authenticated diamond, and from
the best information obtainable Is the
only one ever found in this State. Its
original weight was twenty-three and
three-fourths karats, but 1t had
q large flaw in one side which
necessitated it being cut, reducing
its weight twelve karats. BY Cap
tain Samuel Dewey, who at one
time owned the stone, it was named
" Oninoor," or Sea Of Light. The arti-
Gle quoted states that John Morrjssey
once lent $4,000 on the jewel, but friends
of Mr.. Morrissey, who knew him init
mately, say that he bought it in Boston,
paying $1,000 for it.
WHERE IT WAS FOUND.
In earlier days Mr.. Benjamin b.
Moore was n well-known resident OF
Manchester and a general contractor for
eXcava,ing. filling, and other work. In
the spring of 1852 OF 1853 he was given
the contract for filling the lot on lower
Hull street where Crump's coal yard now
is. and which was the site OF Fishers
factory or warehouse. All Of that portion
of the city in the neighborhOOd OF
Eighth and Perry streets was tall
hill corresponding to the knoll on which
now stands the residence of the late Mr..
Vickers, at present owned and occupied
by Mr.. Rollin. 1t was when digging
down q portion of this hill to obtain
earth to be used in filing ct Fishers
factory that MIR. Moore found the stone.
1t was about seven feet below the sur
face, and in the original or natural earth,
says Mr.. Charles L. Moore, one of the
two surviving sons Of the gentleman
who always after his find was called
" Diamond Moore. just where Eighth
and Perry streets intersect, Mr.. Moore
SAYS, is as near as bis father could locate
as the spot at which the diamond was
found. Mr.. Creed T. Davis, who for
number of years has been engaged in
the manufactured bricks in that city, and
who for a long period conducted his pe-
rations on the square bounded by Eighth
and Ninth and Porter and Perry streets,
is good authority on most matters per
tanning to Manchester, He holds, from
what he has heard for years. that the
stone was found in the soil in Perry
street about ten feet in front Of the lit
tie brick Office now standing between
Eighth and Ninth and not more than a
foot below the surface
The Mr.. Moore here quoted was not
more than five or SIX years old when his
father made the find, and only knows
from hearsay. His information, how
ever, is most likely correct, rs it was re-
ceived directly from his father.
CHANCE STONE.
Whether the prize was found at one
or the other places cited or at either
depth claimed is a matter Of no special
concern. The practical question is
the valuable was dropped there
in ancient times and was covered deeper
and deeper in the clay formation or
came out of the natural earth and gravel
where others might possibly lie. The
opinion of those best acquainted with
its history, as expressed by MIR. G. NJ.
Wallace. who is somewhat OF geologlst,
and gentleman of varied learning, Is
that this was what is termed "chance
C., that it was accidentally
dropped in the earlier ages.
The fact that this entire hill for n con-
siderable distance around has been dug
down. and no others have been found,
though careful watch was kept, goes to
confirm this belief.
ITS HISTORY.
When Mr.. Moore came across the stone
he was attracted by its uncommon ap-
pehrance. and decided to have it tested
20 ascertain whether or not itwa a genu-
inc crystal. as lie believed. He carried
it to Mitchell & Tyler, and Mr.. Tyler
from test to which he subjected the
stone, was satisfied of its Penuineness,
and offered to take it to New York or
Boston, have it cut, and 10 sell 1t upon
The best terms possible. a geolo.
gist, who was then in Rich
mond urged the finder to allow him to
test the brilliant, and he placed it IN a
crucible either on Belle Isle or at the
Tredegar and reduced il to a white heat
This proved its commences, bnt it is
thought injured the stone to slight eX-
tent at least. Mr. Moore then placed
the diamond in the hands of friend
to be sold, he (Moore) to receive
SO, 800 for il. or, in other words,
he sold it for thisamount Mr.. G. T.
Moore says his father only received
gold watch, for which he allowed S100.
This, which turned him ont only about
$40, and what he made by charging peo-
pie q quarter TO see and examine his
treasure, is, he Chains, all that was ever
realized. The gentleman who was to
have made the sale claimed that he lost
the diamond after Moore delivered it to
him, and Was not therefore bonnd for the
-, 500.
An effort was made Yesterday TO see
this gentleman, who still resides in Rich
mond, but he was not found.
Mr.. John Morrissey wore the brilliant
in his shirt bosom for a long while, and
when he died in Florida 1t went TO one
Of his legatees. No one seen had any
further knowledge of its whereabouts.
SUPPOSED HISTORIC FIELD.
Around what was then the field in
which was picked the gem is supposed
TO cluster many historic memories, and
this has been the groundwork for nnmer-
Gus Revolutionary stories. 1t is claimed,
and while there is no exact proof brought
TO bear, there is, on the other hand,
nothing TO provo the contrary, that
this field afforded camping ground
TO the savage Indians, to La
fayette during the Revolutionary
war, and in the recent unpleasantness Of
the Confederate troops. On Semmes
street-two squares nearer the Peters
burg rai!road-haye been dug up a num-
Der OF French and Indian beads, some of
which Mr.. Wallace has among his